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Borderlands PS4 Games Roundup: Impressions and Reviews

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection Review - More Value Than a Pony Made From Diamonds!

When the first Borderlands game released, I was still working in the wide world of video game retail. I had seen it all, played it all, and I was at the point in my gaming career where I wanted something to wow me with a unique and fresh approach.

That’s when the first Borderlands game came along. This stylish cel-shaded first person shooter managed to marry itself with a host of RPG elements including damage numbers that flew like blood from your enemies, and random drops of loot in the form of glorious guns. I loved the concept, loved the style, but I didn’t dig the story as there wasn’t really much of one.

Not the game’s fault mind you, the first game had a lot to do in terms of building this alien world where you are an adventurer seeking fortune, fame, and power inside of a structure called “The Vault.” I viewed it as a novel idea, but something more enjoyed in a multiplayer setting and not something rich with story like I had hoped.

Well, it did good. Really good in fact. The developer, Gearbox, announced a second game in the series before you could say “You call that an ending?” to the first game. Yeah let’s just say that the ending of the first Borderlands left many a little perturbed as to the “twist” it offered.

Fast forward to now and we’ve got three main games in the series. The first one, a sequel, and something called a pre-sequel (in between one and two). Now, you may or may not have played these before so I’m going to be thorough. The recently released “Handsome Collection” Features Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel. The reason the first game wasn’t included is because these two titles are the story of the iconic villain “Handsome Jack.”

Each game also includes all of its respective DLC on the disc (wow!) so you’re looking at hundreds of hours of gameplay if you do all the side-missions and DLC campaigns. Truly a great value, but is it time well spent? Having first been on PS3 and now on PS4, let’s explore these two games and see how they stack up on the new console.

An Overview of Borderlands 2

As mentioned earlier, Borderlands 2 took what the original did and added in a bunch of new features, locations, classes, and some exquisite humor that really cemented itself as a modern classic. The main draw in this open world first-person shooter is the loot. Everything you open from crates, to chests, to toilets has something randomly placed within it.

These guns are totally randomized, resulting in, as Gearbox puts it, a “Bazillion” different combinations, or more depending on which trailer for the game you watch. It’s a lot, and it's a winning formula that brought even more to love in this sequel. With character skins, class mods, and grenade mods all entering the fold, loot just became even more interesting.

The item’s rarity is based on color, so expect to change your pants when you see certain colors. Yes, it will be that exciting. The classes you choose from are also fantastic, with a wide variety of skill trees and special abilities. For example, one of the downloadable classes included in this Handsome Collection is the “Psycho” Krieg who I absolutely love. He spits out bursts of insane screaming that leave you shaking your head and laughing constantly.

For example, say you're playing cooperatively either online or split-screen (a phenomenal feature) and your partner goes down. As the Psycho I’ll walk over and revive them only to hear my character scream “GET BACK ON YOUR MEAT HAUNCHES!” And that’s one of the more tame examples.

My special attack as Krieg is to brandish a crude axe and begin a bloody rampage that allows me to do insane amounts of melee damage. Other characters like Axton the “Commando” can throw down automated turrets, and Maya the “Siren” has a number of epic powers that seem almost magical.

So, lots of randomly generated loot, great classes, open world to explore, and more addictive gameplay than you can shake a stick at. It’s all for nothing if the game isn’t interesting. Luckily, Borderlands 2 is quite the treat in the story department. It won’t make you rethink your life decisions, but it will have you laughing almost constantly.

It’s a crude, off-beat, and zany style of humor, but I can guarantee you haven’t seen anything like it. One of the most iconic characters, Cl4-TP or “Claptrap ” is a tiny robot that spew out random jokes and tries desperately to beatbox on several occasions. One of his first lines of dialogue to you is when an earthquake shakes the screen and he says: “That must be an earthquake, either that, or you mom just got out of bed!”

It’s hard to put into words the style of humor on show here, but if you have a wide pallet for both crude and ridiculous humor, you won’t be disappointed.

Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Overview

After Borderlands 2 came out, people were chomping at the bit waiting for the next entry in the series. We all assumed it would be Borderlands 3 on PS4, but instead Gearbox threw a curve ball and announced the “Pre-Sequel” for the PS3 and Xbox 360, along with PC. I’ll admit, I was a little confused when I saw this happening, but I kept an open mind.

This game takes place after the first one, but before the second one, hence the name. It is actually set on the moon orbiting Pandora, Elpis, in addition to the Hyperion space station that you can constantly see in the sky while playing Borderlands 2. This stand-alone game is about 20-hours or so in length if you’re just doing the story, and while it didn’t address some of the issues with Borderlands 2 like pacing, it did do an incredible job of telling Handsome Jack’s origin story in a big way.

In this game, the sadistic villain from Borderlands 2 hasn’t quite reached his levels of evil, so you’ll get to see him go from lowly employee to massive ego-centric villain. One of the overarching issues with the Borderlands series is the fact that the open world is so large that it sometimes has you making long treks with nothing to do but hope you get there soon.

There are fast-travel stations, but they are few and far between in many cases. When exploring Elpis in the Pre-Sequel, you’ll notice that gravity is different than on Pandora. This makes for some awesome low-gravity jumping, but it also can slow down your seemingly endless trek to the next area.

The new classes in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel are great changes to the formula. One of them, Wilhelm, has a pair of flying drones that will go on bombing runs against your enemies and heal you while that’s happening, depending on which skill tree you choose. Nisha’s ability allows her to wash the screen in sepia tones and go into a wild west shootout.

Athena has a shield that reminds many people of Captain America as it absorbs damage and can be thrown at enemies like a boomerang. For the first time, Claptrap is a playable class, and while this may seem like a joke, his abilities are positively chaotic (in a good way). His special ability for example is always random. In some cases he may launch tiny flying drones that poison your enemies, and in other cases you may find yourself and your teammates bouncing through the air with rubber ducks strapped to your waists.

With Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, you have more of what made the second game great, and a story that builds more on the already quirky and undeniably interesting universe. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel by any means, but it doesn’t fix what isn’t broken either.

Bringing Pandora to PS4

Borderlands has never been a technical marvel when it came to graphics. That being said, I’ve always enjoyed the cel-shaded style that it employs. On the PS3 these games chugged in terms of frame rate when you played split-screen with someone else. In addition, the textures would constantly pop-in and random bouts of performance drops made some of the more chaotic battles an exercise in frustration.

I’m happy to report that the PS4 version (mostly) fixes all of these issues. Borderlands 2 looks and plays like a dream on the next generation console. With smooth 60 frames per second and little to no pop-in, I am having an absolute blast playing split-screen with my own personal Mad Moxxi (it’s alright to be jealous, and yes, she’s real). The game also supports four-player split screen for the first time, which is a neat idea in theory, but in practice it can be lower the frame rate and make it hard for everyone to see their in-game menus properly.

The game isn’t without glitches. In one early area an enemy managed to glitch me into the wall to the point where I couldn’t move and since I was player one I couldn’t quit the game without ending the whole section. So, my faithful other half ran the gauntlet for me and finished the quest. Major brownie points for her, but I have to wonder why glitches like that couldn’t have been ironed out since the time was spent bringing these to next gen.

In terms of graphical improvements, it’s very noticeable when you’ve played them on consoles. PC gamers won’t notice much difference if you have a high-end PC, and this represents another opportunity where the graphics could have been remastered a bit more for the new hardware. Overall though, the sheer amount of content here is astounding.

Is it Handsome Enough for You?

We’ve reached the part where we have to face the reality that these games have been released before. If you’ve finished both these titles and all their DLC before and you’re completely done with them, there’s not a lot of reasons to come back unless you want to see them looking and playing better. The content is all here, but it’s all been released before (with the exception of the final DLC for the Pre-Sequel, that was released on the day this collection was for all systems and is included as a free update for PS4 owners).

It’s the same game with a fresh coat of paint, but you can actually import your saved characters from the PS3 version if you upload them to the cloud prior to selling the old versions, so it’s not like you HAVE to start over. If you haven’t played either of these, or you’ve only sampled tiny portions, I would highly recommend giving this collection a shot. I’ll admit, it’s a lot more fun split-screen or online than by yourself though since the story, while funny, isn’t going to blow you away.

In short, I think the two games in the Handsome Collection can be perfectly described by this timeless quote from Claptrap:

“Me and him are like two peas in a pod! Two bullets in a mag! Two cannibal midgets in a fat guy’s ribcage!”

Final Verdict: 8.5/10

Stay tuned for additional reviews of the DLC campaigns for each game in the Handsome Collection! If you’re craving more Pandora, check out my review of the TellTale Games Series “Tales from the Borderlands.”

Tales from the Borderlands Episode Five: The Vault of the Traveler Review/Final Score

SPOILERS FROM EPISODE 1-4 FOLLOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Scroll down for earlier episode reviews.

This is it friends. Telltale once again has reached the end of another series, and we've all been waiting with bated breath since that monster of a cliffhanger at the end of episode four. There were plenty of threads still hanging at the end of episode 4, but I am here to say that episode five is not only a fitting end to the series (hopefully there will be second season) but it's one of the finest finales I've ever played.

This was one of the longest, most well thought out, most emotionally dynamic adventure games I have ever experienced. Telltale, you've managed to finally beat out your first success. Tales from the Borderlands is their new magnum opus.

Bringing it all to an End: An Expertly Told Story

Tying up all the loose ends in a series like this left me wondering if Telltale could do it. What about the guy who has been interrogating you this entire series? What about Gortys? What's in the Vault of the Traveler? What are we going to do about stupid Vallory? What can we do about Handsome Jack for that matter? So many questions, and yet, they all are touched upon with a perfect finesse.

There's a lot of emotions in this episode. A lot of threads come to a heart-wrenching end, but the episode likes to play with your head too. You may think you know something, but ultimately what you thought will be turned on its head. You may scream at the screen and curse the writers at Telltale, only to beg their forgiveness an hour later. It's intense, it's powerful, and it's impossible to put down.

My girlfriend and I played the episode in one sitting, and it took a while. This one was notably longer than others, which we were pumped about. One option just before the final act took us both by surprise and allowed you to truly customize how the final act would play out. If you play your cards right, you even get a special surprise that had us in fits of laughter.

A Spoiler Free Freakout at the Final Act

Speaking of the final act. Wow, can I just say that real quick? Wow. There's epic, and then there's that. Just when I thought the episode was going to end, leaving me broken and unhappy with my answers, the final act swoops in with a series of revelations, twists, and enough turns to make even Mad Moxxi blush at how flexible this story can be without breaking.

It all fits together in a way that many stories don't, not even some of the Telltale ones. The pieces are all so expertly crafted from the first episode to the last, that it feels like nothing was left out. Everything came together in such beautiful harmony that you're convinced it couldn't have gone any other way.

Final Thoughts: Time to Reveal the Score

I started on this article a long time ago as a Borderlands fan eager to see what Telltale could do with this franchise. I've grown a lot since then, as a gamer, and as a fan of the series. I feel like Telltale has grown with me, and I feel like this journey we took together was a profound, hilarious, and utterly captivating one.

Fans of Borderlands, fans of Telltale games, and fans of amazing adventure games in general, come one come all. This is truly a hallmark for adventure gaming, and one that will surely go down in history as one of Telltale's best.

Those who have been following Telltale's rise to fame over the last several years know that all of this fame and fortune began when they absolutely knocked their Walking Dead series out of the park and put themselves on the map in a big way.

Since that debut, there have been plenty of good Telltale Games' series, but know that I'm down to the final episode, I can safely say that Tales from the Borderlands is the best Telltale game series since that first success.

Following the events of episode three, Fiona and Rhys have the Gortys upgrade they wanted, but Vallory is still very much an obstacle between them and the Vault of the Traveler. Now we know that the final upgrade for Gortys isn't even on Pandora, it's on the moonbase Helios. Back where all of this started in the first place.

Scooter's Back! Also That Launch Montage...

Each episode has its musical introduction, and this one is by far my favorite. The 80's rock music, combined with the incredibly well done animations, had me laughing out loud while also getting chills from just how epic it truly was.

The laughs are all over the place this episode. Once you're on Helios, you're treated to some of the most bizarre and utterly hilarious scenes thus far in the series. Laughter aside, this episode also shakes the very pillars the Borderlands lore. With one single and very, very emotional event, the series has now earned its place in the overall plot.

It deserves to be there, because Telltale has once again taken something and elevated it past the quality the source material. That's a tall order for something as whacky and funny as Borderlands, but they've managed to do it, and this episode earned them that final place among the Borderlands lore.

Borderlands Fans: Go All In!

Assuming the final episode isn't a hot mess, I am convinced that Tales from the Borderlands if a must play for any and all fans of the series. Sure, it may not have the first-person shooting or the RPG elements, but it has a story worthy of this world and then some.

Besides, you won't want to miss the game-changing moment that this episode brings to the entire universe. Wow, just wow. Episode five can't come soon enough.

Tales from the Borderlands Episode Three: Catch a Ride Review/Impressions

MILD SPOILERS FROM EP 1 & 2 FOLLOW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

While Telltale's Borderlands series has had some good moments, not once thus far has a single episode completely eclipsed the one before it. I'm happy to report that Episode Three: Catch a Ride is by far the best episode yet, and sets up the rest of the series for some high stakes and hilarious action-filled sequences.

Depending on how you finished up episode 2 in terms of the Fiona/Jack decision, you'll be treated to an awesome opening scene with episode 3 and thrust into a suspense-filled adventure that answers some of our questions while also bringing in some fresh faces and raising the stakes to the highest they've been thus far in the series.

Getting to Know the Gang

Thus far in the series, we've certainly come to know Fiona, Rhys, Loaderbot , and Sasha through what we've experienced thus far. All of this comes to a head though in the opening moments of the third episode where we are faced with an even greater enemy than what we've seen thus far. Let's just say they're powerful, and they have friends, vault hunters even, on their side. We're also introduced to possibly one of the best characters in Telltale's lineup: Gortys.

This tiny little robot has a cute, innocent voice and a naive nature that contrasts perfectly with the unrelenting harshness of Pandora. It's also quite unexpected too, seeing as how I expected Gortys to be some sort of angry weapon of mass destruction, but instead she's an innocent little robot.

Her interactions with Loaderbot are absolutely priceless and set up some of the best jokes in the series thus far. The gang splits up into Athena and Fiona plus Rhys and Sasha. With these smaller groups, there's a lot more character development to be had. Fiona and Athena share some genuine moments depending on your dialogue choices, and Rhys awkwardly flirts with Sasha to hilarious effect.

These moments serve to round out these characters in ways that make it much easier to care about them. Combine this with the introduction of Gortys and Loaderbot's spot on humor, and suddenly these are people you want to travel with. The journey thus far has been fun and whacky, but after the development in episode three, it's a journey that you feel like you absolutely must finish. It's the perfect turning point.

Fresh Settings and Renewed Motivation

When we think of Pandora, we think of harsh landscapes and deserts. Yeah sure you've got places like the neon green colored Caustic Caverns, but for the most part, it's all very terrifying. Most of "Catch a Ride" surprisingly takes place with a bio-dome of sorts that is filled with vibrant neon-colored plant life. It's gorgeous, plain and simple. The sudden change is setting is nice on the eyes, and the mysterious plant life makes it all the more intriguing.

Everything in this episode is fueled by the introduction of a villain who I can only describe as the Pandora equivalent of Cruella Deville. Her powerful ties and no-nonsense attitude is what fuels the journey through episode three, along with the potential for an upgrade to Gortys.

The dialogue also helps to set the pace for this third episode. Playing as Rhys gives you insight into his character as someone who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty, but is ultimately a sweetheart. Playing as Fiona reveals that she doesn't know what he wants in her life, but maybe she could find purpose as a Vault Hunter.

This of course is all tied together by the present-day story that has been slowly unfurling since the series' beginning. Answers come, along with questions, but it's all wrapped up in an amazing package that reinvigorates the journey and sets it up for a climatic final two episodes.

Better, but Still Not Perfect

Episode three of this bombastic series had some awesome moments, but these moments are bogged down at times because Telltale's engine has eyes bigger than its stomach. The game engine they use handles small battles and action scenes without a hitch. The problem arises when the action is on full throttle.

The frame rate cuts and jitters during moments where the action is hot. This wouldn't be too much of an issue if this wasn't an entirely story-driven game. Not to mention, many of the inputs require a high level of precision that is quite difficult to achieve if the game is sputtering like a dying car engine.

It's a small complaint, and one that has gotten better since Telltale's games started appearing on PS4, but it's still there. A stark reminder that they should upgrade their engine to something more advanced now that they've found success with their titles.

Alright, I'm in. What's Next?

I've enjoyed the first two episodes of Tales from the Borderlands, but the third episode was the first time I truly loved the series. With the four episode just around the corner, I'm excited to see where everything is heading. Stay tuned for reviews and impressions of the last two episodes as they release!

The second episode of Tales from the Borderlands was shorter than I expected, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't hooked the whole time. After the bombastic cliffhanger in episode one, we open with our team having discovered the underground Dahl base and Rhys has suddenly begun seeing a holographic ghost of Handsome Jack from Borderlands 2.

I've played my share of games that make me laugh out loud, but Atlas Mugged had my sides splitting by the end. The way Rhys and Handsome Jack go back and forth creates some of the best dialogue I've ever seen from Telltale.

It's not just this banter's hilarity, but the way it helps us get to know Rhys that really makes the episode shine. The episode deftly switches from hilarious (and on one occasion grotesque) moments, right into action-packed sequence that put a giant grin on your face. The game's title sequence for example is an absolute blast and a memorable set-piece that many a Borderlands fan won't forget anytime soon.

These hilarious and action filled moments, including a "bro-tastic" scene that will have you rolling on the floor in Rhys' story are punctuated by the more emotional and tense events happening on Sasha's side of things. With your decision in episode one weighing heavily on her motivations in this second episode.

The game continues jumping between the two main characters, but it also touches upon the present day events where the characters recount their story leading up to that moment. The way reality shifts based on who is telling the story creates one of my favorite moments in the episode. This kind of ongoing flashback is a fresh and hilarious way to put things in the game that don't make sense, only to have the other characters call B.S in the present.

So we can put down "amazing writing" on the list of things that this series has going for it. Borderlands fan or no, this is one funny series. Speaking of fans who've played the series, episode 2 was touted as having a cameo by the famous "Scooter" from the main series. This quirky mechanic, known for his signature phrase "Catch a Ride!" appears in top form, with dialogue that perfectly matches his character.

That's one thing I think fans will appreciate immensely about this new episode: the authenticity. The ability for these characters to appear under another developer and not miss a beat is a testament to how much love and care went into creating a world that is loyal to the source material. For those who have played Borderlands, nailing that odd and bombastic feel is not an easy task.

Is There Anything Wrong?

You may be wondering if I am just head-over-heels with this game and refuse to say anything bad about it. While I do think this is an incredible use of the Borderlands franchise, I have to once again remind everyone that this isn't the first person shooter it's based on.

The style of gameplay here is an interactive adventure/choose your own fate type of structure. Not for everyone, but for fans of the source material or someone looking for an incredibly funny story that also manages to pull your heartstrings, you can't look much further and find something this good.

Format aside, there is one aspect of this new series that has yet to fully evolve into something substantial. From the series' beginning there has been an inventory system of sorts where you can find items that stick with you. It has been pulled into the fray a couple of time, including a moment where you can spend money you've earned this episode, but overall it has yet to really showcase its worth.

This episode will offer more opportunities for items to enter your inventory but they won't have a use quiet yet. With season being almost halfway done, this system has yet to show itself as anything more than a means to purchase aesthetic customization options.

The Verdict Thus Far

The first episode of Tales from the Borderlands was a welcome return to Pandora for me and a great start to the series. The second episode has amped up the action, the emotion, the stakes, and most importantly, the "bro-fists." I for one am totally hooked and couldn't be more excited for the next episode.

How are you liking the series thus far? Be sure to scroll down for the first episode's review if you're thinking about getting into the series, and don't forget to leave a comment below!

Tales from the Borderlands Episode One: Zer0 Sum Review/Impressions

For those who are fans of the Borderlands series, Gearbox has always been the sole developer. Now things are changing as the universe is placed in the hands of Telltale Games. The main series marches on mind you, but this side story had a lot of fans wondering how things would translate.

Telltale has been around a long time, but it wasn't until they tried their hands at The Walking Dead a few years ago, that they truly found themselves in the spotlight. A unique brand of fast paced storytelling, reflex based quick-time events, and split-second decisions served the zombie filled world well.

Every decision you made had impact. People would live and die based on your choices and as they released each downloadable episode of the game, your decisions carried over with new consequences. It was truly something, and now we come to the present and Telltales first episode of Tales from the Borderlands entitled "Zer0 Sum."

Did Telltale once again grasp the magic of yet another universe and weave a story that rivals the source? Well we won't know for sure, until the season is finished, but judging from the first episode, I'd say things are going very, very well.

Ah Pandora, How I Have Missed Thee

The main planet of Borderlands' setting is the alien world of Pandora. This exciting and always dangerous setting has been the backdrop for three main Borderlands games now and while the story has always been good, it's never been the main focus on the game. The humor though was undeniable and the quirky characters more than made up for the lack of literary innovation.

The nice thing about Telltale's first episode in this established universe, is that you don't really need to know much about the other games. If you haven't played them, you won't be too lost. The pacing is great, the humor is sharp, and most of the characters are brand new faces, so you won't have any problems being immersed into the experience, that's for sure.

This first episode introduces our two main playable characters and a host of new side characters that will surely come into play in later episodes. Story is everything here so I'll keep this brief to avoid spoilers. The two main characters are Rhys and Fiona. Rhys is an employee of Hyperion, a corporation known for being corrupt and psychotic in the main series.

Fiona is a Pandora native that was raised by an expert thief and conman and follows in his footsteps with her sister. Somehow they are both involved with something called a Vault Key, which in this universe opens an ancient alien vault filled with mysterious treasure, power, or something more sinister (you know what I mean if you played the main games). Through the course of the first episode, you'll play as both characters and experience everything from intense gun battles, to vehicular combat across a variety of settings.

I want to go on for paragraphs about how great some of these moments can be, but I won't. Just now that if you like ridiculous action and hilarious writing, you'll be right at home with this first episode of the series.

If you're returning from previous experiences, you'll be hooked from the opening scene, I guarantee it. The quality and attention to detail, down to the character intros the series is known for, is all present and accounted for. The unique art style of the series is also in top form on PS4 with smooth edges and vivid colors.

So it looks great and it fits into the established universe perfectly. How does it play?

Wait, this isn't a First-Person Shooter!

Since this is the first episode, I'll go over the gameplay style in detail, but subsequent episode reviews will gloss over this particular aspect since it won't change drastically (but if it does, I'll be sure to let you know).

While the main Borderlands series has always been an FPS, Telltale takes a more classic adventure game approach combined with quick dialogue choices and split-second decisions. You'll walk around and observe/interact with your environment and speak with people. When the proverbial excrement hits the fan, you'll find yourself tapping buttons, swiping analogue sticks, and targeting enemies with hilarious results.

It's engaging and like nothing else you've played in recent memory I imagine (unless of course you've played other Telltale games). While things like timed dialogue choices and the occasional misread of a swipe may occur, this new title runs like a dream on PS4.

So, again, not a shooter. Think of it like an interactive story where you participate in the action and drive the course of the character's fates. In this first episode, I noticed a lot more consistent action that previous Telltale games. One fight scene involving a Loader Bot from Hyperion was particularly satisfying.

It keeps you engaged the whole time and offers some unique gameplay elements, such as scanning objects and people with your bionic eye, that haven't appeared in other Telltale games. It's not a style of gameplay for everyone, but I still would recommend giving it a chance.

How does Telltale's Next Generation Engine Perform?

This was my first experience with Telltale on PS4 (I played their other games on PS3) so I was excited to see how their engine translates to the next generation. Their recent efforts, while amazing, would chug and stutter enough to be consistently noticeable. It didn't ruin the experience but it did break the immersion.

I'm happy to report that Tales from the Borderlands thus far performs like a dream. I recall the game freezing on me once during the 3ish hours of the first episode, but otherwise it was the smoothest experience I've had from Telltale ever.

The graphics aren't meant to be photo-realistic, but they are very crisp and vivid on the new system hardware as well.